At twelve forty-five Bond and Leiter paid off their cab and walked in under the sign which announced ‘The Boneyard’ in violet and green neon.
The thudding rhythm and the sour-sweet smell rocked them as they pushed through the heavy curtains inside the swing door. The eyes of the hat-check girls glowed and beckoned.
‘Have you reserved, Sir?’ asked the head waiter.
‘No,’ said Leiter. ‘We don’t mind sitting at the bar.’
The head waiter consulted his table-plan. He seemed to decide. He put his pencil firmly through a space at the end of the card.
‘Party hasn’t shown. Guess Ah cain’t hold their res’vation all night. This way, please.’ He held his card high over his head and led them round the small crowded dance-floor. He pulled out one of the two chairs and removed the RESERVED sign.
‘Sa
